Method and machine for making step joints



Il,484l,5411

Feb 19 1924.,

B. WOLHAUPTER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed t. 6. 19216 Sheets-Sheet 1 M1 0. w z m a Mr/vEssEs k Feb, 119 9 192%. 11,484,541

5. WOLHAUPTER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed Oct. 6,1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 attorney Fell-.1). w 4924 1,484,541

B. WOLHAUPTER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed 001;. 6,1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 3111)?! Hot Feb 119 11924.,

B. WOLHAUPTER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed Oct. 6,1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb 119 9 11924:,

B. WOLHAUPTER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed Oct. 6,1921 6 Sheets-$heet 5 grwewtdz MTNESSES Feb 119 s 119240 B. WOLHAUPTERMETHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STEP JOINTS Filed OCB- 6. 1921 6Sheets$heet 6 Federated Feb. 3%, Ed e;

UNITED STATE PATENT orients.

BENJAMIN WOLHAUJPTER, 01 NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAILJOINT OOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING STE JOINTS.

Application filed October 6, 1921. Serial No. 505,853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN WoLHAUr- TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Methodsand Machines for Making Step Joints, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a new and useful process and apparatus formanufacturing rail step-joint bars commercially.

In railway installations it is frequently required to join rails whichdifler in their cross-sectional sizes, such as for instance, a 100-poundrail and a -pound rail. These joints are known as step-joints. Inasmuchas the surface and gauge alignments of the two unequal sized rails mustbe maintained, irregularly shaped fish plates orsplice bars must beemployed. On account of the difierence of size of the two rails whichthese step joints are intended to connect, and that the gauge side ofthe two rails supported 10 one step joint is on the opposite side to t egauge side of the other two rails supported by the opposite step joint,all step joints must be made in pairs rights and lefts. These plates orbars have been manufactured heretofore by forging or by casting, andeach of these methods is objectionable owing to the large number ofcombinations of rails of difi'erent sizes, with the required number ofcorresponding dies, patterns, molds, etc.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a process and anapparatus for use in carrying out the process, for manufacturing on acommercial basis, rail joint step bars of various combinations of sizes,from half length plates of standard construction, wherein the meetingedges of each pair of plates are welded to form an integral bar.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for supportinga pair of rail-shaped dies in proper stepped relation whereby rail stepjoint bars, both rights and lefts may be easily and quicklymanufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for supporting thesedies whereby one may be adjusted relative to the other in order toobtain the necessary surface and a gauge alignments for the joint bars.

Another important object of the invention 15 to provide means fortemporarily holding a plurality of half length plates in proper positionrelative to the previously adjusted dies whereby the completed rail stepjoint bars may be readily removed subsequent to the welding of themeeting ends of said plates.

In the drawings which illustrate several forms of apparatus for carryingout my process,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of such an apparatus.

igure 2 is an elevation showing the right-hand end of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the left-hand end of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a plan View showing one of the completed rail step jointbars.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,showing the removable clamp for holding a pair of'plates against thedie.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view showing the dies properly adjusted andplates properly positioned dies and welded together.

Figure 7 is a front elevation showing another form of apparatus forcarrying out my process.

Figure 8 is an elevation showing the lefthand end of said apparatus.

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the right-hand end of said apparatus.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view showing a single half length plat/eheld in proper position relative to one of the dies.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of another form of apparatus for carryingout my process.

Figure 12 is an elevation showing the end of said apparatus.

Figure 13 is a front elevation showing another type of apparatus forcarrying out my invention; and

Figure 14 is an end elevation thereof.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

In order to manufacture rail step joint bars on a commercial basis, itis necessary to employ rail-shaped dies of various combinations andsizes, to meet the requirements of track installations. It is alsonecessary to position any pair of these dies relative to the the halflength in the same manner as the mile on which the step bars are to bearranged would be pos tioned. To this end it is necessary to os1- tionthese dies in surface and gauge a ignments.

In order to avoid the expense of maklng the large number of rail-shapeddies, I utilize rail sections for the dies. These rail sections aresupported on an apparatus and means are rovided whereby the sections ordies may be relatively adjusted so as to bring about the proper surfaceand gauge alignments. Hal length plates are then fished into position sothat their meeting edges are disposed in the plane of the meeting ed esof the dies. These plates are temporari y held in place by clamps andafter the meeting edges of the plates have been welded, the clamps areloosened and the rail step joint bars, which have thus been formed fromthe welded plates, are then removed from the dies.

In carrying out my improved process, any suitable form of apparatus maybe emplo ed. I have illustrated several forms of sue a paratus and inFigures 1, 2, and 3, I have shown an apparatus which embodies a suporting structure consisting of a base A, a fixed standard B, and anadjustable standard C for respectively supporting the raildies 5 and 6,the die 5 being shown as the lar er.

n order to removably support these dies, the standards are respectivelyformed in their upper ends with recesses 7 for receiving the dies. Eachrecess forms resultant upstanding front and rear ears 8 and 9. A rearclamping block 10 is provided with a threaded shank 11 which passesthrough a suitable opening in the rear ear 9 and a nut 11 engageablewith said shank clamps the block 10 to the ear 9. To permit the rail dieto be changed for different stepsthe front clamping block 12, must bemade ad-' justable. This block is therefore provided with guide arms 14and 15 which have tongue and groove connections with the sides of theear 8. A screw 13 journaled in the ear 8 passes into a threaded hole 12in the clam ing block 12. The screw 13 is provide with a handle 16.' Byrevolving the latter, the clamping block 12 is moved ackward andforward. The dissimilar raildies 5 and 6 are respectively placed inposition between the clamping blocks 10 and 12, and the handles 16 arethen operated to move the clamping blocks 12 rearwardly so as to clampsaid dies between the clamping blocks 10 and 12.

After these dies have been thus positioned on the su porting structure,it is desirable to align sai dies so as to bring the same to surfaceand'gauge alignments. To this end I have mounted the standard C on thebase A so as to permit said standard to be moved laterally, that is,forwardly or backwardly, and I have also formed the standard 0 oftwoparts or sectionswhereby the upper section which carries the die maybe adjusted vertically. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the standard Cembodies a lower section 17 and an upper section 18. The lower sectioncarries an upwardly'extendin guide tongue 19 which is closely fitted witin and has slidable engagement with a recess 20 formed in the uppersection 18. Screws 21, 21 which are threaded into lugs 22, 22 carried bythe up er section 18, have their lower ends held agalnst verticalmovement in lugs 23, 23 carried by the lower section 17. Thus, bymovement of the screws 21, the upper section 18 will be moved verticallyso as to bring the die carried thereby into surface alignment with theother die, as shown by the line X-X in Figure 1.

The lower section 17 of the standard 0 is formed with a dovetailedgroove 24 in its base for receiving a correspondin ly shaped rib 25formed on the base A. T is rib extends rearwardly and consequently thestandard C may be moved forwardly or backwardly. In order to make thisadjustment, I have provided a screw shaft 26 which is journaled in thebase A and held against longitudinal movement. This screw shaft extendsrearwardly into a recess 27 formed in the base A and has threadedengagement with a In 28 which projects from the lower section 1 of theupright of the standard G into the recess 27. A handle 29 is fixed tothe screw shaft 26 and upon rotation of this handle the screw shaftwill, through the medium of the lug 28, cause the standard C to be movedrearwardly or forwardly in orderto bring the dies into either gaugealignment shown by lines YY and Z-Z in Figure 6.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided a support for thedies and also means for relatively adjusting the dies in planes at rightangles whereby surface and gauge alignments of the dies may be obtained.

After the dissimilar rail-dies have been thus properly positioned, Ithen fish a pair of half length plates 30, 31 of standard constructionto the end of the rail-die 5 and a pair of half length plates 32, 33 tothe end of the rail-die 6. These plates are of the proper sizes to fitthe res ective rail-dies.

The adjacent ends of t e plates 30 and 32 and the adjacent ends of theplates 31 and 33 are positioned in substantial alignment 30, owing tothe rail-die 6 beinggmoved to gauge alignment on the line Y- Each pairof plates 30, 31 and 32, 33 is temporarily supported in the correctstepped relation to the dissimilar rail-dies as described above, bymeans of a clamp 34 which is preferably [ill-shaped in elevation so asto partially embrace the rail-die and oppositely ositioned plates, asillustrated in Figure 5.

ach clamp is provided with a clamping screw 35 having an operatinghandle 36 which, when operated, causes the plates to be firmly supportedin correct positions. These clamps are quick acting and consequently theplates can be positioned and removed in very short periods of time.

As soon as the plates have been properly supported, the meeting endsthereof are then joined by'the process of electric or oxy-acetylenewelding as may be desired, as indicated at 37 in Figures 4 and 6. Thusthe welding of the half length plates pro uces rail step joint bars fromcommercial stock parts. One of the completed bars is illustrated inFigure 4. After these bars have been thus produced, the clamps 34 arequickly detached and the bars are then withdrawn.

The bars produced on that side of the raildies adjacent the gauge lineY-Y are known as rights and those bars which are produced on theopposite side of the raildies adjacent the gauge line 27 are known aslefts. It is obvious that either a series of rights or lefts may beproduced.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the adjustments forthe rail dies are divided, that is, one standard is movable verticallyto bring the rail-dies into surface alignment and the other standard ismovable horizontally to bring the rail-dies into gauge alignment. Inthis form, the base D supports standards E and F. The standard E isformed of upper and lower sections 38 and 39. The lower section 39 isfixed to the base and the upper section 38 is mounted for verticaladjustment by the same character of means employed with the standard C.

It is therefore thought that a repetition of the description of thisspecific means is unnecessary. In either form of apparatus the rail-die5 may be clamped in the recess 40 of the upper section 38 of thestandard E by means of oppositely disposed pairs of clamping bolts 41and 42. The standard F is supported on the base D for lateral movements,i. e., backwards or forwards, by the same character of means employed inconnection with standard C and a repetition of a specific description ofsaid means is thought to be unnecessary. The rail-die 6 is clamped inthe recess 43 formed in the upper end of the standard F by means ofoppositely disposed pairs of. clamping bolts 44 and 44.

It will thus be seen that the rail-dies 5 and 6 may be independentlyadjusted in order to bring about surface and gauge alignments betweensaid dies. It will also be noted that these dies are adjustable inplanes at right angles one to the other so as to bring about saidsurface and gauge alignments.

When it is desired to manufacture a series of either rights or lefts andweld the inner portion where the two half length plates meet, Ipreferably space the rail-dies 5 and 6 a considerable distance apart asshown at in Figures 11 and 13-so as to provide access to the weldingpoint.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the base G support-sspaced standards H and I. Each standard is mounted for lateral movement,i. e., backwardsor forwards, and each standard is divided into upper andlower sections, the upper section being vertically adjustable. In otherwords, each rail-die is capable of being vertically and horizontallyadjusted. This arrangement creates a more flexible apparatus as itenables a much larger vertical adjustment of the dies and also a muchlarger horizontal adjustment of the dies. Each standard consists ofupper and lower sections 45 and 46 and the upper section is supported onthe lower section for vertical movements, by the same character of meansas-is employed with the standard C. It is therefore thought that arepetition of the description of the specific means is unnecessary. Therail-dies 5 and 6 are supported on the upper ends of the upper sections45 by the same means employed in supporting the dies in Figure 7 and arepetition of the description of this sup-porting means is thought to beunnecessary. The standards II and I are each supported on the base G forlateral adjustments by the same character of means as is employed inconnection with the standard C and therefore a repetition of thespecific dcscription of this adjusting means is thought to beunnecessary.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, I have provided abase J having a pair of spaced bearing lugs 47 and 48 extending upwardlytherefrom and disposed on opposite sides of the central longitudinalplane of the base. Rail-die supporting arms 49, 50 are respectivelyjournaled on the bearing lugs 47, 48 by means of gudgeons 51, 52. Theaxes of these gudgeons are disposed in parallel relation so that thepivoted arms 49 and 50 may be swung toward and away from one another.Formed in the upper portion of each of said arms is a recess forreceiving the respective rail-die,

and each rail-die is suitably clamped to the supporting arm by meanssimilar tothat shown in Figures 7 and 8, and therefore, a furtherdescription of the specific clamping or supporting means is thought tobe un- 'necessar In order to swin the su portin y P arms 49 and 50 andhold t e same in any adjusted position I have provided the lugs 47 and48 with extensions 53 and 54 respec-' tively. Screw shafts 55, 55 arerespectively journaled in said extensions and have threaded engagementwith nuts 56 which are respectively supported for rotation and slid fromthe pivots 51 and 52 that the arcuate paths traversed by said dies willbe substantially at right angles to one another and thus the path of onedie will make for the adjustment for gauge and the path of the other diewill make for the adjustment of surface of the proposed step joint.

I claim:

1. A process of making step rail joint bars which consists intemporarily supporting a pair of half length plates in correct steppedrelation to dissimilar rail-shaped dies, then welding the adjacent endsof said plates, and subsequently removing the completed her from itssupport.

2. A process of making step rail joint bars which consists in aligning apair of dissimilar supporting dies, then temporarily fishing a halflength plate to each of said dies, then welding the adjacent ends ofsaid plates, and subsequently removing the completed bar from itssupporting dies.

3. A process of making step rail joint bars which consists in bringing apair of dissimilar rail-shaped dies to surface and gauge alignment, thentemporarily fishing a half length plate to each of said dies, thenwelding the adjacent ends of said plates, and subsequently removing thecompleted bar from said dies.

4. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, and a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon.

5. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and means forrelatively adjusting said rail-dies, whereby the same may be brought tosurface alignment.

6. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and means forrelatively adjusting said rail-dies, whereby the same may be brought togauge alignment.

7. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and

means for relatively ad usting said rail-dies,

whereby the same may he brought to surface and gauge alignments.

8. n an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a su portingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rai -dies mounted thereon, and means forrelatively adjusting said rail dies in planes at right angles to oneanother whereby the same may be brought to surface and gauge alignments.

9. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and means fortemporarily supporting a pair of half length lates positioned in fishingrelation on sai dies.

10. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and meanscooperating with said dies for temporarily supporting a pair of halflength slates positioned in fishing relation on said ies.

11. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, apair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, andremovable'clamps for temporarily supporting a pair of half length platespositioned in fishing relation on said dies.

12. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, means forrelatively adjusting said rail-dies, whereby the same may be brought tosurface alignment, and means for temporarily supporting a pair of halflength plates positioned in fishing relation on said dies.

13. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, apair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, means forrelatively adjusting said rail-dies, whereby the same may be brought togauge alignment, and means for temporarily supporting a pair of halflength plates positioned in fishing relation on said dies.

14. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon,.

means for relatively adjusting said rail-dies whereby the same may bebrought to surface and gauge alignments, and means for temporarilysupporting a pair of half length plates positioned in fishing relationon said dies.

15. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, means forrelatively adjusting said dies in planes at right angles to one anotherwhereby the same may be brought to surface and gauge alignments, andmeans for temporarily supporting a pair of half length plates positionedin fishing relation on said dies.

16. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, means forrelatively adjusting said dies in planes at right angles to one anotherwhereby the same may be brought to surface and gauge alignments, andremovable clamps for temporarily supporting-a pair of half length platespositioned in fishing relation on said dies.

17. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofasupporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, and a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported onsaid standards.

18. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on sandstandards, and means for relatively ad ust ing said standards wherebysaid rall-dles may be brought into surface ahgnnientr 19. In anapparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination of asupporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saldstandards, and means for relatively adjusting said standards wherebysaid rail-dies may be brought into gauge. alinement.

20. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofasupportmg structure comprising a base, a pan of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, and means for relatively adjusting said standards wherebysaid rail-dies may be brought into surface and gauge alignments.

21. In an apparatus for making rall step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of stand ards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, and means for relatively adjusting said standards in planesat right angles to one another whereby said rail-dies may be broughtinto surface and gauge alignments.

22. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, and means for temporarily supporting a pair of half lengthplates positioned in fishing relation on said dies.

23. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standardsmountedtbereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported onsaid standards, and removable clamps for temporarily supporting a pairof half length plates positioned ies.

24. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting, structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, means for relatively adjusting said standards whereby saidrail-dies may be brought into sur ace alignment, and means ortemporarily supporting a pair of half length plates positioned infishing relation on said dies.

25. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, means for relatively adjusting said standards whereby saidrail-dies may be brought into surface alignment, and removable clampsfor temporarily supporting a pair of half length plates positioned infishing relation-on said dies.

26. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, and a pair of dissimilar rail-dies-respectively supported onsaid standards, one of said standards having an adjustable connectionwith said base whereby said standard may be moved laterally to bring therail-dies to gauge alignment.

2?. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pairof standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, one of said standards having an adjustable connection withsaid base whereby said standard may be moved laterally to bring therail-dies to gauge alignment, and means for adjusting said standardlaterally.

28. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, and a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported onsaid standards, one of said standards having a vertically adjustableupper section for supporting one of the rail-dies whereby said die maybe brought to surface alignment with the other die.

29. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, one of said standards having a vertically adjustable uppersection for supporting one of the rail dies whereby said die may bebrought to surface alignin fishing relation on said ment with the otherdie, and means for vertically adjusting said upper section.

30. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa sup orting structure comprising-a base, a pair 0 standards mountedthereon; and a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported onsaid standards, one of said standards having an adjustable connectionwith said base whereby said standard may be moved laterally to bring therail-die supported thereon to gauge alignment with t e other die, saidstandard having a vertically ad ustable upper section for supporting therail-die whereby said die ma be brought to surface alignment with t eother die.

31. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa sup orting structure comprising a base, a pair 0 standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, one of said standards having an adjustable connection withsaid base where by said standard may be moved laterally to brintherail-die supported thereon to gauge a ignment with the other die,means for adjusting said standard laterall said standard having avertically adjusta 1e upr section for supporting the rail-die whereysaid die may be brought to surface alignment with the other die, andmeans for vertically adjusting the upper section of said standard.

32. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa supporting structure comprising a base, a pair of standards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail dies respectivel supported on saidstandards, one of sai standards having an adjustable connection withsaid base whereby said standard may be moved laterally to bring therail-die supported thereon to gauge alignment with the other die, saidstandard having a vertically adjustable upper section for supporting therail-die whereby said die may be brought to surface alignment withtheother die, and means for temporaril supporting a pair of half lengthlates pos1- tioned in fishing relation on sai dies.

33'. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, the combination ofa sup orting structure comprising a base, a pair oFstandards mountedthereon, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies respectively supported on saidstandards, one of said standards having an adjustable conneotionwithsaid base whereby said standard may be moved. laterally to bring therail-die supported thereon to gauge ali ment with the other die, saidstandard aving a vertically adjustable upper section for supporting therail-die whereby said die may be brought to surface alignment with theother die, and removable clamps for temporarily supporting a pair ofhalf length lates positioned in fish ing relation on sai dies.

34. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pair of dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and means fordetachably clamping said dies on said standards.

35. In an apparatus for making rail step joint bars, a supportingstructure, a pairof dissimilar rail-dies mounted thereon, and means forrelatively adjusting said rail-dies in a direction at right angles toone another.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER.

